The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-09-08

1CS all Wnat nODle IellOW you are, an
what a few'd a-done what you did, an
how could l ever think she'd q fancy
for me! An she sent you her love an
she hoped you'd forgive her-the Lord knows
for what don't. 1 only know that this
here business has give you the cut in ahead
of me an I'd be scamp if didn't stand
back out of your way now"
That was the secret of the trouble between
them; rivals these. Only the other day
Tom Golden had been elated by the belief
that he was the favored one, and it was hard to
have the brmming cup of his hopes dashed
away just as his lips touchedit. Hewas angry
to think that bit Of girlish hero worship
should turn the scale. and the fact that it
was his life which had been saved rendered
him powerless to make an effort in his own
behalf
Possibly il was the blood-letting which
had cooled the current Of passion in Leon
ards veins.
Look. here, Tom," he said quietly, "pd
made up my mind to stand out from be-
tween you and Jessie before this happened,
and amt minded to change 1t now for ali
that you tell Inc. had to fight for it. Jest as
you're iightin' now, but I'd got over the hard
part about givin' her up, and was thinkin'
toteu you 30 that day the scaffold went down.
You've no call to think as took q unfair
advantage when saved you from
bein' mashed 'mongst the planks an scant-
lin. SOon's I'm well enough I'll go away,
III promise YOU that
''But-but If she likes you bestf" stam.
mered Tom
"She don't. That's jest girls way. It's
her way. KNOWN how used to feel an
thinkin' mebbe she hadn't been quite fair to
me. She amt quite sure of her own mind,
that's all. Now, then, can't we be friends
since there's no jealousy betwixt wf"
with all my heart" blubbered Tom,
quite conquered by the generosity Of his rival,
and within his own breast Q similar
spirit was stirred.
I'm wait tell he's round again, an then
we'll 60 to her together, an she shall take
the one she chooses an no trouble about
it, he said TO himself.
II was characteristic of hot-headed Tom
not TO be outdone. whether 1t was in vindic-
tiveness or generosity. he could go to either
extreme according 10 the line of sentiment
aroused, and the very next day something
OCCuJIeu WHICH sent uIm lQCO worse
state Of mind than the first.
He was returning from his days work,
still buoyed up by the intention Of proving
himself - generous az his rival; but all at
once bis heart began 10 beat quickly and he
was thrilled from head To foot by the sight
Of Jessie's neat, trim figure few steps in
advance Of him She had her head down,
and at the moment ne recognized her she
took her handkerchief from the little satchel
she carried and put il to her eyes. but some
thing else was drawn out with the handker-
chief and fiuttered to the pavement un.
noticed by beI He picked it upa
letter which had been opened, addressed to
ner IN mans hand. enough TO arouse
some mIsgiv,ngs IN the heart Of jealous
lover. but scarcely enough 70 bring that
swIft gresnish palloi 70 his face. II was the
Ink did that. fort the address was written with
red ink. and Tom had bottle Of red ink in
his room and Just such adelicste gray shade
OF paper with envelopes TO match like this
IL his hand. II Was clear q day that Bar
clay Leonard bad wntten this letter to her,
a~A ~hA L.